Sulfate Promotes Compact CaCO Formation and Protects Portland Cement from Supercritical CO Attack.

Supercritical (sc) CO in geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) can chemically and mechanically deteriorate wellbore cement, raising concerns for long-term operations. In contrast to the conventional view of "sulfate attack" on cement, we found that adding 0.15 M sulfate to the acidic brine can significantly reduce the impact of scCO attack on Portland cement, resulting in stronger cement than that found in a sulfate-free system.

Empowering women: interventions. Nigeria: new law to end FGM.

In March 1994, a Nigerian woman fighting to spare her young daughters from circumcision was saved from deportation from the US by a judge who called the practice cruel, painful and dangerous. Female Circumcision or Genital Mutilation has been a custom in male-dominated African societies to prevent promiscuity among women, reduce their sex urge and enhance their fertility and fecundity. The mutilation ranges from clitoridectomy (cuts in the clitoris) to infibulation (removal of the labia and sewing up most of the vagina).